Wash tank



Maren so, 1943. H, A, DHRMNN 2,315,089

' WASH TANK E Filed March 31, 1941 "Lq' ffy d A Patented Mar. 30, 1943UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFECE WASH TANK Henry A. Dohrmann, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 31, 1941, Serial No. 386,011

7 Claims.

This invention relates in general to wash tank or receptacle whichcontains a volatile liquid in which articles to be cleaned may be dippedor submerged.

More particularly the invention relates to a closure for the tank orreceptacle.

It is well known that when articles are cleansed in a tank or receptaclecontaining a volatile liquid, or when scrubbing or cleaning the articleabove the liquid level, for one reason or another a spark is createdwhich immediately ignites the liquid causing considerable damage.

It frequently happens that the operator in such circumstances neglectsto close the tank with the closure and attempts to smother the flame bythrowing articles thereover, resulting some times in upsetting the tankthereby causing additional damage.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide improvedmeans for automatically shifting the lid or closure of the tank to closethe same in the event of fire, and which means is normally inactive anddisconnected from the cover, thereby rendering it possible for i theoperator to close the tank independently of the closure operating means,the closure operating means being rendered and held inactive until theflame or heat renders the holding means inactive so that the closureoperating "7" means will be free to operate upon the closure to cause itto close the tank.

A further object is to provide improved means for positively closing theclosure or cover Without relying upon gravity, thereby overcoming allpossibility of the cover or closure sticking which would prevent itsclosing.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new anduseful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features ofnovelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangementof the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed andshown in the accompanying drawing illustrating this invention, and inwhich Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a closure and theoperating means therefor, constructed in accordance with the principlesof this invention showing the same appliedto a portion of a tank orreceptacle,

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1 with the parts in the positionwhich they will assume when the closure operating means actuates thecover to cause it to close the tank.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective View of the means for holding theclosure operating means in an inactive position so that the closure maybe opened.

In the drawing, the present invention is disclosed as being anattachment for a tank or receptacle but it is to be understood that thesame may be formed as an integral part of the tank.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral Ill designates aportion of a tank or container for holding a volatile liquid. Thenumeral Il'designates a collar or annular member which may be secured tothe tank IIJ in any suitable manner preferably by means of a portion I2thereof telescoping with the tank I0 and being held in position in anysuitable manner such as by means of a band I3 which is adapted to becontracted in any suitable manner, not shown, about the wall of the tankIii.

Secured to the collar or member Il in any suitable manner is a bracketI4 of any desired or suitable construction and preferably supported bythe bracket so as to extend into the collar or member II is a tubularbearing I5 of any desired size and conguration. A plunger I6 is arrangedin the tubular member I5 and this plunger may be provided with ashoulder Il. The end I8 of the plunger preferably extends through a capI9 that is threaded, as at 2li, upon the outer and open end of thetubular member I5. A coil spring 2| is located within the tubular memberI5 with one end contacting the shoulder Il and the other end contactingthe cap or collar I9.

The end 22 of the portion I8 of the plunger it is preferably shaped toform an arm or extension which passes through a slot 23 in the bracketI4 and the extremity of the extension 22 may be bent back upon itself,as at 24, so as tank which cooperates with the collar or tubular memberII and this cover 25 is hingedly mounted, as at 26, preferably tov abracket 2l which in turn may be supported by the bracket I 8.

The forward end of the tubular member I5 is open as at 28 so that theplunger I6 may project therebeyond and this extremity is preferablythreaded, as at 29. A nut or collar 3i! is adaited to be threaded uponthe threads 29 and carried by thenut is a member 3l which may itself beconstructed of fusible material or may be secured to the nut or collarby fusible material.

In use the plungerl is forced into the tubular member I5 so as tocompress the spring 2i and the nut or collar 3|] With the member 3|carried thereby is threaded upon the threads 29 at the inner end of themember I5 so as to hold the plunger I6, the end I8 and the entension 22'thereon in a position to permit the cover 25 to be fully opened. Whenthe cover is opened it will rest upon the extremity 24 of the member 22and the spring 2'I will be held under tension by reason of the fact thatthe extremity of the plunger I6 contacts the element 3| carried by thenut or collar 30. In this position of the parts it will be manifest thatthe cover 25 may be opened and closed independently of the closingmechanism.

When the cover 25 is in an open position, as

shown in full lines in Figure 1, and in the event of ignition of thecontents of the tank or of the fumes, the heat generated thereby Willfuse the member 3| or cause it to become detached from the collar 30,whereupon the energy stored in the spring 2| will cause the plunger I6to move forwardly, and in doing so the extremity 24 of the extension 22of the plunger, which is in contact with the closure 25, will swing thelatter about the pivot 26 to a closed position. I

The spring 2| will cause the plunger I6 to operate quickly and willthereby impart a quick movement to the closure to move it about itspivot.

Y To reset the device, the old collar 3|] is removed, the plunger I6withdrawn,V bygrasping the extension 22, and a new collar 30 appliedr tothe end of the tubular member 25.v

By reason of the extension 22 on the plunger passing through the slot 23in the bracket I4 it will be manifest that the plunger as Well as theextension 22 will be maintained against rotation, while at the same timethe free operation of the plunger I6 and extension 22` will not beinterfered With. i Y

With Ythis construction it will be manifest that ing, when said fusibleelement is fused, to move the plunger in a direction to close saidcover.

2. A tank of the character described having a cover adapted to be freelyopened and closed, mechanical means independent of the cover for closingthe latter, said means embodying a tubular member open at one end, aplunger in said member, means connected with the plunger for engagingand operating said cover, means tending normally to move the plunger inone direction, acollar removably secured to the tubular member adjacentthe open end thereof, and fusible means supported by said collar toextend over the said open end of said tubular member to be engaged bythe said plunger to hold the plunger against movement under the stressof said resilient means, the said resilient means operating,

' when said fusible element is fused, to move the when the parts are inthe position shown in full lines in Figure 1, the closure 25 may bemanually opened and closed independently ofthe closure operatingmechanism. VWhen, however, the closure 25 is open and fire should becaused in the tank, the closing mechanism will force the cover 25 aboutits pivot 26 immediately upon the release of the plunger by thedisplacement or the fusing of theelement 3|.

Obviously this mechanism may be formed as an attachment adapted tobesecured to and removed from a tank or may be constructed as a part ofthe tankV itself. Y

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that various changes may be made inthe details of construction and in the combination and arrangement ofthe several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departingfrom the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new isz.

3 1. A'tank ofthe character described having a cover adapted to befreely opened and closed, mechanical means independent of the cover forclosing the latter, saidmeans embodying a tubular member open at oneend, a plunger in said member, means connected with the plunger forengaging and operating said cover, means tending normally to move theplunger in one. direction, and a fusible element attached to sa-idtubular member to extend over the said open'end thereof, to be engagedby .the said plunger to hold the plunger against movement under thestress of said resilient means, the said resilient means operatplungerin a direction to close said cover.

3. A tank of the character described having a cover adapted to be freelyopened and closed, mechanical means independent of the cover for closingthe latter, said means embodying a plunger, resilient means operatingdirectly upon the'plunger and tending normally to move it in a directionto close the cover, fusible means with which the plunger engages forholding the plunger against movement under the stress of the saidresilient means and for maintaining said resil ient means under tensionand an extension on said plungerV for engagement with said cover toclose the latter when the plunger is moved under the stress of saidresilient means, when said fusible member is fused, said extension beingdisposed at an angle to the axis of the plunger to constitute a handlewhereby the plunger may be re-set, said cover being adapted to be openedand ,closed independently of and while the said closing means ismaintained inactive.

4. A'tank of the character described having a .cover adapted to befreely opened and closed, mechanical means independent ofthecover forclosing the latter, said means embodying a plunger, resilient meansoperating upon the plunger to move it in a direction to close the cover,fusible means for holding the plunger against movement, under the stressof the said resilient means, an extension on said plunger for engagementwith said cover to close the latter when the plunger is moved under thestress of said resilient means, when said fusible member is fused, saidextension being disposed atan angle to the axis of the plunger toconstitute a handle whereby the plunger may be re-set, said cover beingadapted to be opened and closed independently of and while the saidclosing means is maintained inactive, and means with which the angularlydisposed portion co-operates for maintaining said plunger and extensionagainst rotation. 5. A tank of the character described having a coveradapted to be freely opened and closed, mechanical means independent ofthe cover for closing the latter, said means embodying a plunger,resilient means operating upon the plunger to move it in a direction toclose the cover, fusible means for holding the plunger against movement`underthe stress of the said resilient means, an extension on saidplunger for engagement with said cover to close the latter when theplunger is moved under the/stress of said resilient means,

Vwhen said fusible member is fused, said extension the said closingmeans is maintained inactive, and a guide through which said extensionprojects and moves for maintaining the angularly disposed portionagainst rotation.

6. A tank of the character described having a cover adapted to be freelyopened and closed, mechanical means independent of the cover for closingthe latter, said means embodying a plunger, resilient means operatingupon the plunger to move it in a direction to close the cover, fusiblemeans for holding the plunger against movement under the stress of thesaid resilient means, an angularly disposed extension on said plungerfor engagement with said cover to close the latter when the plunger ismoved under the stress of said resilient means, when said fusible memberis fused, said cover being adapted to be opened and closed independentlyof and While the said closing means is maintained inactive, a slottedbracket through which said extension projects and moves for maintainingit in a predetermined path of movement, a portion of said extension,when in an inactive position serving as a stop against which said coverrests when in an open position.

'7. As an article of manufacture a closure attachment adapted to beapplied as a unit to a tank or receptacle, said attachment embodying anannular member adapted to be secured to the tank to encompass theopening thereof, a cover hingedly connected to said member, coverclosing means independent of the cover and carried by said annularmember and embodying a plunger operating through the Wall ofsaid annularmember, resilient means operating directly upon the plunger and tendingnormally to move the plunger in one direction to close the cover, andfusible means within said annular member and engaged by the plunger forholding said plunger inactive against the stress of the said resilientmeans and for maintaining said resilient means under tension, wherebyupon fusing of said fusible means the said cover closing means will berendered active.

HENRY A. DOHRMANN.

